Did you know there is a FREE resource right here in Wright County, as well as Hamilton and Franklin Counties, that offers a way to connect our area youth to the people, resources, and information that help them maneuver easier through adolescence? There is! It’s the BEE Inspired Program through Building Families and it's all about empowering adolescents (ages 12 – 19) to have open communication with a trusted adult to make healthy and informed decisions about sexual health topics, positive self-worth, community services available, relationship skills, teen dating violence, and so much more.
“We’re here to get people talking about the tough stuff,” said Tiffany Larson, perhaps better known as ‘The Bee Lady.’ “Early conversations make things easier…and there needs to always be ongoing conversations,” she added.
Bee Inspired does this in a variety of ways, starting with programming available for schools and alternative settings. While Larson said Eagle Grove takes the most advantage of the in-school program, other schools in the three counties participate in different ways as well. She admits that it was hard when COVID put a halt to this in-person type presentation last year.
“But I like to see the brighter side of things,” Larson pointed out.
She explained that COVID also helped them develop a stronger virtual program, and that will benefit all of the locations. For example, she no longer has to worry about missing out on classes because of the weather. Now, they will just meet up virtually.
“Flexibility is the key word,” she said. “We tailor what works best with each school.”
That includes tailoring their teaching to reach all students. Their inclusive program is taught in both English and Spanish, and more recently, has started focusing on a better way to reach special needs students as well, an addition that is near and dear to Larson’s heart.
One area of focus of the Bee Inspired Program in schools (during Health class in Eagle Grove and through topical presentations in Clarion) is providing information, services, and resources to youth (and their families) to help reduce adolescent pregnancy rates, talking about abstinence, and addressing the cause and effects of STDs. Larson is pleased to say that she has even had Robert Blue Middle School reach out to address some of their students in the future.
But Larson wants the community to know that the Bee Inspired Program is able to work with more than the youth in school, they are also available to work with parents and other adults on initiating conversation and continuing those conversations about health-related topics that are maybe “sometimes hard to have with youth.”
For those adults that would like to take advantage of these free services, Larson would encourage you to join them in a “Let’s Talk” Facebook Live Event. The most recent one was just held September 21, but no worries, you can always go back and watch the recorded session. In the past these Lives have covered topics like mental health and vaping and were highly watched sessions. If you would like to know when the next one will be held and the topic it will address, Larson encourages you to like their Facebook page or follow them on Instagram and/or Twitter. Larson’s goal is to also reach out to teens and parents through the ever-popular Tik Tok app for some “Buzzworthy Tidbits”, so be watching for that at a possible later date.
Larson and the BEE Inspired Program also offers a “Let’s Talk Virtual House Party and/or Workshop. This is for the group of people, or a family, who would like her to talk specifically to them about a specific topic.
“We’re taking digital opportunities to create these teachable moments,” said Larson.
Through the magic of Zoom (another ‘positive’ to come out of COVID, according to Larson), families or groups can meet virtually and talk about whatever questions or concerns they might have. One of the most popular questions they get from adults is “How to be an approachable adult?”
She added that they are finding more and more kids don’t feel like they have even one “approachable” adult in their life, whether that be a parent, guardian, teacher, or whomever. In an effort to change this, they have started presenting an award each year to people in the surrounding community who fulfill these roles and are nominated by youth and/or adults.
“They are adults who have open, honest, authentic conversations with youth,” said Larson.
One other very important factor of the BEE Inspired Program through Building Families in Wright, Hamilton, and Franklin Counties is a survey they are currently asking people to fill out to help decide future council activities and programs. It should take less than 10 minutes and can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/r/GWJ2NDZ.
These programs are funded through the Community Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (CAPP) Grant, which funds local community-based projects with the intention of preventing initial and subsequent adolescent pregnancies, providing education and support to expecting/parenting youth, and delivering programs and projects to communities to “help establish comprehensive sexual health resources and education.”
Larson would also like to make the public aware that October is “Let’s Talk” Month.
“It’s my favorite time of year! Harvest, apple cider and pumpkin lattes, sweatshirts and bonfires, and TALK-tober…advocates believe in healthy, open relationships between children and their trusted adults, such as parents, guardians, mentors, teachers and health care providers. Several organizations, such as the Bee Inspired Program through Building Families and Prevent Child Abuse Iowa, have tools available to help adults begin the conversation with youth, and keep it going year-round,” said Larson.
If you have questions about the materials being covered in school (a notice is always sent out prior to the discussion so parents are aware), or for more resources, Larson encourages you to contact her at 515-602-6371 ext 4 or by email at tlarson@co.wright.ia.us.
